Like millions of other people in Tokyo, we were just trying to get home. We’d had a lovely day out in Shibuya*, but were tired and keen to get back to our hotel in another part of Tokyo. Past experiences of rush hour have nothing on this, even in Beijing, […]
Food in Japan is tasty, fresh, and a sensual delight with beautifully balance flavours on the plate. Nonetheless, from time to time, I miss the staples of home.
We stand on ceremony here. Young women robed in white by Taishi Nobukuni direct the rituals—this way please, take a seat, form a queue. Cameras reluctantly stowed, we follow directions, wait our turn, and wish we’d worn nicer socks.
By the time a third round of Mojitos had been ordered, it was clear that Rosa was a master of seduction. Earlier that afternoon, two fair-haired Yumas meandering through la Habana Vieja had caught the eye of this beautiful young woman at her friend’s street stall. In half a blink, […]
It’s our first time in Havana and Pip has booked a couple of nights at the Roc Presidente while we find our feet. One glance at this gracious 1920s classic , where Baked Europeans encircle the pool by day and a Cuban girl band entertains guests at night, confirms that […]
If your time is limited and all you want to do is walk the Great Wall of China, a terrific way to get to the best (read least crowded) part of the Wall from the airport is to travel with the locals, by public bus (not tour bus/private car/ organised […]
There’s a sense of occasion as we make our way towards Miyajima (shrine island) near Hiroshima. Crossing the Seto Inland Sea by ferry, serious photographers and selfie aficionados stake an early claim on the boat’s deck, anticipating the first view of the large torii gate which is as spectacular as […]
But Pixabay Doesn’t … It is immediately obvious when you visit Cuba that this country loves a dome. From the glorious El Capitolio, to the neglected Glorieta Mudéjar in Vedado, and the rotunda in Cienfuegos’s Parque Jose Marti, they’re everywhere. A typical example is the Museo Nacional de la Lucha […]
Since the first time I saw a traditional kimono, I’ve been fascinated by the contrast between the simple construction and the exquisite, ornate decoration on these garments. These days I’m more interested in contemporary Japanese fashion than the traditional, but was still keen to visit Orinasu-Kan which is The Foundation for […]